“Fiddleobia” – Dixieland Swingsters (1937)

A swingin’ number from a North Carolina territory band that will rouse you from your sleepy Sunday morning!

This outfit played jazzy western swing and recorded two sessions for Victor/Bluebird in 1937 and 1938. Trumpet player Dave Durham was also a regular, but is not listed as performing on this side.

This one has a Lang-Venuti feel – rollicking rhythm and real virtuosity on the violin. A great listen!

Buck Houghins is listed as both the tenor sax and violin player on this number. At first listen I felt it was so instructive to hear his melodic mind at work within the confines of both instruments on the same tune.

Then sharp listener Dan Weinstein noted that toward the end of the song, the tenor sax can be heard playing legato notes in the background as the fiddle solos. So now I wonder: Is that Buck Houghins on fiddle or tenor sax? And if so, who is playing the other instrument?

Recorded in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 2, 1937.
Released as Bluebird B-7160

Credits:
Buck Houghins – tenor sax, violin
Jerry Collins – piano
Larry Dowing – guitar
Cliff Stein – string bass

Sources:
Jazz and Ragtime Records (1897-1942), 6th Ed., Brian Rust